Job Fair Tips
The company representatives who are attending
may be technical staff members, not from the personnel
office. They may not be in a position to hire you. However, they
can provide you with very valuable information about their
organization and refer you to someone who might be able to hire you.
Preparation is the key to making a successful presentation at
any job or career fair. At a minimum, you should do the following:
Seniors
It is suggested that you approach the company
representatives from a
networking standpoint. Don't start your
conversation with "Are you hiring?"
Ask them about their jobs,
products and companies. Let the conversation take a relaxed, natural
pace. Prepare a thirty-second "sales pitch" so you can talk about
your academic discipline, senior projects, Penn State Behrend and
yourself. If they are hiring and are interested in hiring you,
they'll tell you. Company representatives are going to have
questions for you as well. Be prepared to converse.
Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen
Your goal is to learn more about the many
different job titles and fields within engineering. First, you should
explain your interests, background and career
goals. Seek advice from
the representatives. Remember,
they were in your
shoes not so long ago. The potential always exists
for internship opportunities. However, don't walk up to a company
representative and ask for a summer job/internship. Let the
conversation flow naturally. When the time is right, ask if there is
any potential for summer employment or internships with their
organization. Remember, you are an ambassador of your academic program
and Penn State Behrend. The way you conduct yourself reflects on you
and the university.
Some suggested questions to ask employers:
-
Ask
about the manufacturing processes, production methods, products
or
services provided by the company.
Impress them with your knowledge of their
company/products/services.
-
What
is a typical work day like at your company?
-
What
are your job responsibilities?
-
What
do you like most about your job? What do you find most
challenging?
-
What
other career areas are related to your area of expertise?
Note: Do Not Approach An Employer In Pairs Or
In Groups!
Go up to a recruiter by yourself. Employers want to
talk with one person at a
time. Your diminish your chances if you are
"part of a herd."
You could also discuss the projects that you have
been associated with
(e.g. Senior Design Projects, etc.) and the
skills that you have gained.
If you've had a internship, talk about
the experiences that you had.
Everyone attending the fair should be prepared to
talk about themselves,
their abilities and their skills. Also you
should have a carefully prepared resume that has been checked over by
faculty or staff. If you have any questions or concerns (e.g.
preparing your resume) make an appointment in the Career Development
Center.
Interviewing Information
You should be well-prepared for any career fair
by improving your
interviewing skills.
Even if you have had some interviews recently, it never
hurts
to brush up on those skills. You should make an effort to review the
interviewing information available in the CDC Resource Room.
You can schedule mock interviews with CDC counselors who will
help you to evaluate your interviewing skills.
At the very least, you should review the Interviewing information and practice what you read.
Clothing
Business attire is required of all participants.
If you are not sure what that
means check with the CDC staff. There are videotapes that can be viewed in the CDC that
present information on proper interviewing attire.
You will not be allowed into the Fair without
proper attire.
-
For
men: dress shirt, tie and dark slacks.
-
For
women: gray or blue dress suits or appropriate business attire.
-
Suits
are highly recommended for seniors.
Overview
Prior to the Fair: Prepare!
-
Think about your strong points, your goals, the company and
where you want to go within the company. Prepare a "one-minute
commercial."
-
Be prepared to discuss where you want to work geographically
(Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York), what you like doing, what
you're looking for in a first job, what your most relevant skills
are.
-
Prepare your resume! If you need assistance,
attend the resume workshops or use the examples
found in the CDC. Once you've started, meet with a counselor
to "fine tune" your resume.
-
Understand how your skills (or the ones that you want to develop)
relate to the employment opportunities available at your chosen
organizations.
-
Watch the "Connecting with Employers: Making the Most
of a Job Fair" video in the CDC.
-
Thoroughly research your top companies and gain
background information upon which you can base your conversations
with the company representatives. Check the CDC and company
web pages for the information that you'll need to prepare for
the fair.
-
Prepare your own job fair kit complete with resumes
(enough for all employers that you want to talk with). Other
items that support your interests and abilities such as references,
written work or a portfolio can also be helpful.
Day of the Fair
-
Dress as you would for a job interview. You want to present
the best image possible. Jeans, sweatshirts, and backpacks won't
cut it. Avoid excessive jewelry and perfume. You will only have
a few minutes to make an impression as a job candidate. Positive
first impressions are critical.
-
Arrive early and map out your strategy. Who will you talk with
first? Lines will be long for some companies. Plan accordingly
and don't waste valuable time by standing in line.
-
Keep an open mind and don't reduce your opportunities due to
lack of information or effort. You may want to tour the arena
and make contact with all the organizations to learn more about
them and what they have to offer, but visit your top companies first.
-
Introduce yourself to the representative in a positive and
confident manner; offer a firm handshake. Include your name,
your school, major, and the year you are graduating.
-
Tell the recruiter what your interests are. For example:
discussing a particular career or job with that organization
learning more about the organization and available opportunities
learning more about what someone does in a particular career
discussing internship or summer job opportunities.
-
Give the representative a resume and be ready to discuss your
background, qualifications, and career goals. Ask what you should
do to apply for a position with them.
-
Think of questions that you have regarding your area(s) of
interest. Take notes on what you hear. Some questions might
be:
What are common career paths with your organization?
What is the training program for new hires?
What do you look for in a candidate?
-
Make sure you obtain the representative's name, title, address,
e-mail, and phone number so you can follow up with them. Collect literature
and business cards whenever possible, and ask the representative
when you can expect to hear back from them.
-
Be sure to take notes after visiting
each table. Write down
your thoughts about the company, the recruiter, your chances,
follow-up strategies, to-do list, etc.
After the Fair.
After the Career Fair
